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Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram Generator

Generate a Fishbone (Ishikawa) cause-and-effect diagram from a problem statement and 3-6 cause categories. Produces a publication-quality SVG.

Type: Skill (wraps a Python SVG generator) Domain: Operations Vertical: LSS Version: v1.0.0 Last tested: 2026-06-03 Cost per run: Free (Python stdlib only)

:material-github: Source on GitHub · Drive canon · CHANGELOG

Trigger prompts

Generate a fishbone diagram for: "NPT on cementing operations exceeded target by 77%".

Build an Ishikawa for: "API Q1 audit found 17 HIGH-severity findings". Use 6M categories.

Use skill-fishbone on the problem: "Weld porosity in Block 4 pipe welds (12 incidents in 30 days)".

What it produces

A publication-quality SVG file with:

  • Problem statement as the "head" (right side of the fish)
  • 3-6 cause categories (default: 6M — Man, Machine, Material, Method, Measurement, Environment; customisable)
  • 2-5 individual causes per category
  • Color-coded bones (orange = material, blue = method, etc.)
  • Title + date stamp
  • 5.2 KB SVG output, no JS, no external fonts, opens in any browser

Inputs (YAML or JSON)

problem: "NPT on cementing operations exceeded target by 77% (14.2h vs 8h budget over 6 months)"
categories:
  - name: "Man (People)"
    causes:
      - "Crew experience varies across shifts (IWCF L4 only on day shift)"
      - "Night-shift cementer callout delays average 90 min"
  - name: "Machine (Equipment)"
    causes:
      - "Cement unit #3 pressure sensor drift (last cal 14 months ago)"
      - "Recirculating mixer wear above manufacturer spec"
  - name: "Material"
    causes:
      - "Class G cement lot inconsistency (2 of 5 recent lots failed thickening time)"
      - "Anti-gas additive settling in storage tanks (no agitation log)"
  - name: "Method (Process)"
    causes:
      - "Pre-job checklist skipped on rushed operations (8 of 12 jobs)"
      - "Pump schedule not adjusted for actual BHCT — uses plan number"
  - name: "Measurement"
    causes:
      - "Pressure test results not logged in real time"
      - "Lab thickening-time tests run at 100°F, field BHCT often 180°F+"
  - name: "Environment"
    causes:
      - "Ambient temps >40°C affect additive performance"
      - "Well site layout forces 45m hose run, adds 8 min circulation time"

Install

python3 canon/operations/lss/fishbone-skill/fishbone.py \
  --input canon/operations/lss/fishbone-skill/problem.example.yaml \
  --output fishbone.svg

No installs needed.

Source files

File Path Version
Source methodology drive/00-canon/operations/lss/fishbone-skill/00-fishbone-v1.0.0-2026-06-03.md v1.0.0
Canonical script canon/operations/lss/fishbone-skill/fishbone.py v1.0.0
Example problem canon/operations/lss/fishbone-skill/problem.example.yaml v1.0.0
CHANGELOG canon/operations/lss/fishbone-skill/CHANGELOG.md v1.0.0

Version + last tested

  • v1.0.0 — released 2026-06-03
  • Last tested: 2026-06-03 — generated fishbone for "Reduce cementing NPT on Well A-12" with 6M categories. Result: 6 categories, 13 causes, 5.2 KB SVG, renders cleanly in browser.

Pairs with

  • skill-dmaic-template — Use Fishbone in the Analyze phase of a DMAIC project.
  • skill-pareto — Use Pareto to identify the vital few causes to put on the fishbone.

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